A blog maintained by Tevita Kete, PGR Officer

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji Islands

 

   

This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific.

The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR.

SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int).

 

 

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PAPGREN coordination and support

  • IPGRI
  • ACIAR
  • NZAID
  • CTA
  • SPC
  • PAPGREN
  • CEPaCT

     genebank locations
    Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings.

    PAPGREN partners


    Mr William Wigmore
    Director of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture
    Department of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 96
    Rarotonga
    Cook Islands
    Tel: (682) 28711-29720
    Fax: (682) 21881
    Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck

    Mr Adelino S. Lorens
    Chief
    Agriculture Pohnpei
    Office of Economic Affairs
    P.O. Box 1028
    Kolonia
    Pohnpei 96941
    Federated States of Micronesia
    Tel: (691) 3202400
    Fax: (691) 3202127
    Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm

    Dr Lois Englberger
    Island Food Community of Pohnpei
    Research Advisor
    P.O. Box 2299
    Kolonia
    Pohnpei 96941
    Federated States of Micronesia
    Email: nutrition@mail.fm

    Mr Apisai Ucuboi
    Director of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest
    Koronivia Research Station
    P.O. Box 77
    Nausori
    Fiji Islands
    Tel: (679) 3477044
    Fax: (679) 3477546-400262
    Email: apisainu@yahoo.com

    Dr Maurice Wong
    Service du Developpement Rural
    B.P. 100
    Papeete
    Tahiti 98713
    French Polynesia
    Tel: (689) 42 81 44
    Fax: (689) 42 08 31
    Email: maurice.wong@rural.gov.pf

    Mr Tianeti Beenna Ioane
    Head, Research Section
    Division of Agriculture
    Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development
    P.O. Box 267
    Tarawa
    Kiribati
    Tel: (686) 28096-28108-28080
    Fax: (686) 28121
    Email : agriculture@tskl.net.ki; Beenna_ti@yahoo.com

    Mr Frederick Muller
    Secretary
    Ministry of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 1727
    Majuro 96960
    Marshall Islands
    Tel: (692) 6253206
    Fax: (692) 6257471
    Email: rndsec@ntamar.net

    Mr Herman Francisco
    Director
    Bureau of Agriculture
    Ministry of Resources & Development
    P.O. Box 460
    Koror 96940
    Palau
    Tel: (680) 4881517
    Fax: (680) 4881725
    Email: bnrd@pnccwg.palaunet.com

    Ms Rosa Kambuou
    Principal Scientist PGR
    NARI Dry Lowlands Programme
    Laloki Agricultural Research Station
    P.O. Box 1828
    Boroko
    National Capital District
    Papua New Guinea
    Tel: (675) 3235511
    Fax: (675) 3234733
    Email: kambuou@global.net.pg

    Ms Laisene Samuelu
    Principal Crop Development Officer
    Crops Division
    Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries & Meteorology
    P.O. Box 1874
    Apia
    Samoa
    Tel: (685) 23416-20605
    Fax: (685) 20607-23996
    Email: lsamuelu@lesamoa.net

    Mr Jimi Saelea
    Director of Research
    Department of Agriculture and Livestock
    P.O. Box G13
    Honiara
    Guadalcanal
    Solomon Islands
    Tel: (677) 27987

    Mr Tony Jansen
    Planting Materials Network
    Kastom Gaden Association
    Burns Creek, Honiara
    P.O. Box 742
    Honiara
    Solomon Islands
    Tel: (677) 39551
    Email: kastomgaden@solomon.com.sb

    Mr Finao Pole
    Head of Research
    Ministry of Agriculture & Forests
    P.O. Box 14
    Nuku'alofa
    Tonga
    Tel: (676) 23038
    Fax: (676) 24271
    Email: thaangana@hotmail.com

    Mr Frazer Bule Lehi
    Head of Research
    Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
    Private Mail Bag 040
    Port Vila
    Vanuatu
    Tel: (678) 22525
    Fax: (678) 25265
    Email: flehi@hotmail.com

    Other links

    Other CROP agencies
    Forum Secretariat
    University of the South Pacific
    SPREP

    Pacific biodiversity
    Biodiversity hotspots
    Breadfruit Institute
    Hawaiian native plants
    Intellectual property rights
    Nature Conservancy
    PBIF
    PestNet
    SIDS
    WWF South Pacific Program

    Other Pacific organizations
    Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific
    Micronesian Seminar
    Te Puna web directory

    Pacific news
    Cafe Pacific
    CocoNET Wireless
    Island Directory
    Pacific Islands News
    Pacific Islands Report
    Pacific Islands Travel
    Pacific Time
    South Pacific travel
    Time Pacific

    Interested in GIS?
    DIVA-GIS

     

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    Monday, June 18, 2007


    Australian wins prestigious prize in biodiversity informatics

    From: Eurekalert (Courtesy of Luigi)

    The 2007 Ebbe Nielsen Prize has been awarded to Paul Flemons of the Australian Museum, Sydney. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) established the Prize in honor of Dr. Ebbe Schmidt Nielsen, who was an inspirational leader in the fields of biosystematics and biodiversity informatics. This is the only Prize in the world that is given in the area of biodiversity informatics.

    The yearly award of €30,000 recognizes a researcher who is combining biosystematics and biodiversity informatics research in an exciting and novel way. Speaking about the Prize when he was notified, Flemons said "I am honoured by the award. GBIF is making a significant contribution to biodiversity informatics."

    Paul Flemons applies computer-based ecological modeling to help identify places where lots of species occur together, or species that occur only in very restricted geographical areas. This helps biodiversity scientists be more efficient in their efforts to discover and conserve species.

    The GBIF Science Committee noted when it announced the 2007 Prizewinner, “Paul Flemons has been a key figure in developing a robust and accessible biodiversity data infrastructure that supports visualization and analysis for use in conservation planning and natural resource decision-making."

    Further, the Committee said, "As a software developer, Flemons is particularly attuned to user needs. His work includes innovations that similar developments lack, and he has a rare mix of skill sets." The Prize winner also works on making desktop software tools into web-based tools that can be shared across the Internet. Sharing analytical software in this way promotes collaboration and cooperation among scientists and between scientists and policy-making agencies.

    Flemons understands the importance of the interplay between natural history collections data, visualization and analysis tools, and conservation decision-making. He has published in top-tier scientific journals, but at the same time he builds software applications that are intuitive and maximize the user experience for both scientists and non-scientists.

    Flemons' Prize will go toward engaging a broader community in the establishment of standards for data and metadata that arise from biodiversity collection and monitoring, and in furthering his work in building tools for online biodiversity analysis. He said " I look forward to using the Prize to broaden GBIF's range of data contributors to include industry and natural resource management agencies, and in further developing its contribution to biodiversity conservation planning.”

    ###

    The Prize will be awarded on Wednesday, 17 October 2007, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where Flemons will make a presentation about his work.

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    Sunday, June 17, 2007


    Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

    From: FAO (Courtesy of Robin Hide)

    In 2002 FAO initiated a wide programme on conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems (GIAHS) aiming to establish the basis for the global recognition, conservation and sustainable management of such systems and their associated landscapes, biodiversity, knowledge systems and cultures.During the preparatory phase (2002-2006), the GIAHS initiative has identified pilot sites in Peru, Chile, China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. For the next seven years (2007-2014), the pilot systems will implement dynamic conservation management approaches aimed at helping the national and local stakeholders to protect and sustainably conserve the systems and their components.

    While there is nothing in the Pacific in the initial phase, if you checkout the sidebar on the website:Other Systems, and then Island Countries, it leads to the following :

    Pacific Islands Taro Based Homegardens (Vanuatu)

    Pacific Island countries have traditional agricultural production systems that provide major food resources, and resilience to the small economies in times of external economic shocks or natural disasters (cyclones). Vanuatu is a relatively large Melanesian island country (besides Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia), and is a high, hot and wet tropical island experiencing SE trade winds. It is the most cyclone-prone island in the world, and is dominated by low forest and thicket bush vegetation. Most of the population is concentrated in two major towns, and 75% practice subsistence agriculture. It has rich lands suitable for crops and pastures, even though it is deficient in potassium, copper and zinc, and low in phosphorus. Vanuatu has a high population growth rate, a low HDI, low income, low literacy, and low life-expectancy. There is no proper valuation of the contribution of subsistence agriculture to the economy, even though Vanuatu is the most dependent among the large Melanesian islands on agriculture. Its vibrant cultural traditions ensure subsistence production and high food security. Severe market constraints (high shipping costs, lack of middle-men) make export development unrealistic. Nevertheless, some agricultural exports have been developed mainly tree crops (coconut, cocoa, and coffee), livestock, spices (pepper, vanilla) and indigenous nuts (nangai or Canarium, navele or Barringtonia). Multiple cropping in traditional gardens promotes food self-sufficiency: Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), taro (Colocasia esculenta), yam (Dioscorea spp.), manioc or cassava (Manihot esculenta.), Fiji taro (Xanthosoma sagittofolium), breadfruit, and rice. Rich varieties of taro and yam are integrated into gardens and adjusted for disaster mitigation and self-sufficiency. Dryland and irrigated taro are cultivated. Other crops cultivated in traditional gardens include sugarcane, island cabbage (Hibiscus esculenta), naviso, pineapple, pawpaw, banana, water melon, tomato, Chinese cabbage, and kava. Root crops generate household income. Homegardens vary in size per household (0.04-0.25 ha), most being small. Some traditional staples like taro and banana provide higher energy per unit weight than others such as breadfruit and yams, but none match exotic staples like rice and manioc.
    Goods and Services Provided
    Pacific island homegardens produce food crops that provide energy, proteins and nutrients, and moderate the climate. Some tree crop commodities (coconut copra, cocoa) have export value.
    Threats and Challenges
    Traditional homegardens are threatened by cyclones, and cheap rice imports that could displace indigenous taros and yams. There is a need to assess the threats to maintaining agro-biodiversity in small island economies.
    Policy and Development Relevance
    There is a need to assess the impact of food import policies on maintaining traditional agro-biodiversity in homegardens in small islands.
    Global Importance
    Taro based homegardens are widespread throughout the Pacific. Their conservation and sustainable management is essential for risk mitigation and self-sufficiency of the islands.

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    Friday, June 15, 2007


    Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

    From: FAO ( Courtesy of Robin Hide)

    In 2002 FAO initiated a wide programme on conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems (GIAHS) aiming to establish the basis for the global recognition, conservation and sustainable management of such systems and their associated landscapes, biodiversity, knowledge systems and cultures.During the preparatory phase (2002-2006), the GIAHS initiative has identified pilot sites in Peru, Chile, China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. For the next seven years (2007-2014), the pilot systems will implement dynamic conservation management approaches aimed at helping the national and local stakeholders to protect and sustainably conserve the systems and their components.

    While there is nothing in the Pacific in the initial phase, if you checkout the sidebar on the website:Other Systems, and then Island Countries, it leads to the following :

    Pacific Islands Taro Based Homegardens (Vanuatu)
    a Summary informationTaro based homegardens are widespread throughout the Pacific. Vanuatu, a relatively large Melanesian island country, has a hot and wet tropical climate and is dominated by low forest and thicket bush vegetation. Its vibrant cultural traditions and its agricultural system ensure subsistence production and high food security, which provides the small economy with resilience in times of external economic shocks and natural disasters, such as cyclones. In their traditional, mostly small gardens people cultivate multiple crops and fruits: rich varieties of taro and yam, sweet potato, manioc or cassava, breadfruit, rice, sugarcane, island cabbage, naviso, pineapple, pawpaw, banana watermelon, tomato and kava. Root and tree crops, spices and indigenous nuts (nangai or navele) generate household income. Maintaining the traditional agro-biodiversity of the homegardens, which also moderate the island's climate, is essential for disaster mitigation and self-sufficiency.and
    b Detailed information
    Outstanding Features
    The Pacific Island countries have traditional agricultural production systems that provide major food resources, and resilience to the small economies in times of external economic shocks or natural disasters (cyclones). Vanuatu is a relatively large Melanesian island country (besides Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia), and is a high, hot and wet tropical island experiencing SE trade winds. It is the most cyclone-prone island in the world, and is dominated by low forest and thicket bush vegetation. Most of the population is concentrated in two major towns, and 75% practice subsistence agriculture. It has rich lands suitable for crops and pastures, even though it is deficient in potassium, copper and zinc, and low in phosphorus. Vanuatu has a high population growth rate, a low HDI, low income, low literacy, and low life-expectancy. There is no proper valuation of the contribution of subsistence agriculture to the economy, even though Vanuatu is the most dependent among the large Melanesian islands on agriculture. Its vibrant cultural traditions ensure subsistence production and high food security. Severe market constraints (high shipping costs, lack of middle-men) make export development unrealistic. Nevertheless, some agricultural exports have been developed mainly tree crops (coconut, cocoa, and coffee), livestock, spices (pepper, vanilla) and indigenous nuts (nangai or Canarium, navele or Barringtonia). Multiple cropping in traditional gardens promotes food self-sufficiency: Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), taro (Colocasia esculenta), yam (Dioscorea spp.), manioc or cassava (Manihot esculenta.), Fiji taro (Xanthosoma sagittofolium), breadfruit, and rice. Rich varieties of taro and yam are integrated into gardens and adjusted for disaster mitigation and self-sufficiency. Dryland and irrigated taro are cultivated. Other crops cultivated in traditional gardens include sugarcane, island cabbage (Hibiscus esculenta), naviso, pineapple, pawpaw, banana, water melon, tomato, Chinese cabbage, and kava. Root crops generate household income. Homegardens vary in size per household (0.04-0.25 ha), most being small. Some traditional staples like taro and banana provide higher energy per unit weight than others such as breadfruit and yams, but none match exotic staples like rice and manioc. Goods and Services ProvidedPacific island homegardens produce food crops that provide energy, proteins and nutrients, and moderate the climate. Some tree crop commodities (coconut copra, cocoa) have export value.Threats and ChallengesTraditional homegardens are threatened by cyclones, and cheap rice imports that could displace indigenous taros and yams. There is a need to assess the threats to maintaining agro-biodiversity in small island economies.Policy and Development RelevanceThere is a need to assess the impact of food import policies on maintaining traditional agro-biodiversity in homegardens in small islands.Global ImportanceTaro based homegardens are widespread throughout the Pacific. Their conservation and sustainable management is essential for risk mitigation and self-sufficiency of the islands.

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    Sunday, June 10, 2007


    Surveying in the Former Kingdom of Hawaii

    From : The American Surveyor

    What is now the 50th State was once the Kingdom of Hawaii. Archaeological studies reveal that the Hawaiian islands have been inhabited since about 400 A.D., having been populated by migrating Polynesians from the western Pacific Ocean. After centuries of isolation, history attributes discovery of these islands to the famous British explorer Captain James Cook who arrived in Hawaii in 1778.
    Along with a sophisticated social structure, there was a system of land tenure and resource management in place at the time of Cook's arrival. Alii'aimoku or kings were the highest ranking individuals controlling the islands. Their territorial control was dependent on military success and could include portions of islands or entire islands. It was not until the end of the 18th century that the entire Kingdom was united under a single individual sovereign, King Kamehameha I, often referred to as Kamehameha the Great. His legacy was passed down to six more kings and a queen before the ancient system was overthrown and a western styled Republic of Hawaii was formed in 1893. By an Act of the United States Congress on August 12, 1898, Hawaii was annexed to the United States of America and became the Territory of Hawaii. It was in 1959 that Hawaii's citizens chose statehood and Hawaii was welcomed into the Union as the 50th State.

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    Sunday, June 03, 2007


    Leadership Award for Hon Anote Tong

    From: Matangi

    KIRIBATI President, The Honourable Anote Tong has been presented with an Outstanding Conservation Leadership Award by Conservation International (CI) in recognition of his global leadership in protected areas with the declaration of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in March 2006. At 184,700 square kilometres (18.5 million hectares) the PIPA is the third largest marine protected area in the world.
    The PIPA has been created in collaboration with the New England Aquarium and CI.At a ceremony on May 11 at CI's global headquarters in Arlington (Virginia) President Tong received the Outstanding Conservation Leadership Award from CI President Dr. Russ Mittermeier. "We applaud the leadership shown by President Tong on behalf of the people of Kiribati," said Dr Mittermeier. "The Phoenix Islands Protected Area is an important sanctuary for the unique biodiversity of the Pacific region, which includes many species of coral, reef fish, seabirds and turtles."
    "Conservation International will continue to support the Government of Kiribati in the planning and management of this marine protected area, which is a great gift to the heritage of the people of Kiribati, and to mankind," added Dr Mittermeier.
    Accepting the award President Tong said he hoped others would follow his example by taking steps to protect threatened natural resources. "We are able to enjoy our oceans and reefs, and we continue to profit from the resources they provide, but have a responsibility to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to do the same," said President Tong. "With the threat of global climate change remoteness can no longer be relied upon to conserve our atolls, reefs and marine life," said President Tong. "I hope other countries - in particular developed countries - will follow the example set by the Republic of Kiribati and take action to protect the world?s natural resources."President Tong was congratulated by Dr Greg Stone, Vice President for Global Marine Programs at the New England Aquarium (Boston, USA), whose research team has carried out several expeditions in the region, documenting the unique biodiversity values of the Phoenix Islands.
    Kiribati is the largest atoll nation is the world with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 3.6 million square kilometres. The PIPA which includes islands, seabed, seamounts, open ocean and coral reefs represents approximately five per cent of the EEZ.The management and enforcement of the protected area will be financed through an endowment system which will also compensate the government for lost fishing licence revenues. In the face of multiple threats to marine biodiversity this represents a sustainable way to finance a conservation scheme. CI's Global Conservation Fund is financing the implementation phase and will begin the capitalisation of the endowment. CI, 30/05/07.

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    HOWARD G. BUFFETT FOUNDATION FUNDS RESEARCH ON SWEET POTATO FOR AFRICA

    From: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center ( Courtesy of Luigi G)


    The Howard G. Buffett Foundation recently granted $3 million to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to fund research to enhance resistance to virus infection and to increase the nutritional content of sweet potato for Africa. The Danforth Center has engaged in the project the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, Peru, and the National Agricultural Research Organisation of Uganda (NARO), to create a multi-institutional collaboration. Sweet potato production is decimated by dual infections of sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV). Danforth Center scientists will work to increase resistance to these two viruses, while undertaking research that will increase the amount of vitamins, folate, zinc and iron.

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